Proposal for the North Clare Integrated Transport and Traffic Plan

1.0 Introduction

1.1. Purpose of the proposed North Clare Integrated Transport and Traffic Plan (NCITT)

North Clare has one of the most scenic landscapes in Ireland. The accompanying road network serves a range of recreational-tourist users as well as meeting the daily needs of a dispersed rural community. With the success of the growing tourism visitors on the Wild Atlantic Way in conjunction with the established popularity of Doolin, the Cliffs of Moher , the Burren and several other sites a number of  issues have presented to the detriment of the local community. Many of these were identified previously and also during the consultation process for the Cliffs of Moher Strategy 2040. The main issues identified include the following:

• High traffic volumes and Transport challenges
• High reliance on the private car
• Traffic congestion at peak times during the summer season
• Conflicts between vehicular traffic and other users
• Regulation of bus routes and licenses
• Illegal and unauthorised parking activity
• Insufficient visitor management in places
• Risk of damage to the habitats
• Repairs, investment and upgrades to the road network. Road Safety including speed limits

These concerns have led to Clare County Council, Fáilte Ireland, the North Clare communities, businesses and stakeholders meeting to discuss the future approach to primarily traffic and transport concerns but also ancillary issues. The consensus is that the growing scale of demand to use the public road network needs to be addressed. Therefore, it is agreed that a Transport and Traffic Plan will be developed with inputs from partners and stakeholders. This will provide a strategic direction for the future with an action plan for appropriate interventions and management.

These concerns have led to Clare County Council, Fáilte Ireland, the North Clare communities, businesses and stakeholders meeting to discuss the future approach to primarily traffic and transport concerns but also ancillary issues. The consensus is that the growing scale of demand to use the public road network needs to be addressed. Therefore, it is agreed that a Transport and Traffic Plan will be developed with inputs from partners and stakeholders. This will provide a strategic direction for the future with an action plan for appropriate interventions and management.

1.2. Study Area

The study area is North Clare as defined by the Ennistymon Electoral Area detailed in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Map of the North Clare area as defined by the Ennistymon Electoral Area 

1.3. Stakeholder Engagement

A number of local stakeholders are represented by the North Clare Community Group chaired by Mr. Tom Barrett.
There has been constructive engagement with this group and elected representatives on the dates as outlined below:

• October 4th 2023 Clare Council Tourism/Physical Development  &  Muncipal District Staff  met with NCCG at Falls Hotel Ennistymon
• February 7th 2024 Clare County Council Tourism/Physical Development , Muncipal District Staff & West Clare MD Cllrs -  Workshop on North Clare Integrated Transport and Traffic Plan at Woodstock Hotel
• February 9th 2024  Clare County Council Tourism/Physical Development  &  Municipal District Staff  & Fáilte Ireland met with North Clare Communities Group on the Draft Terms of Reference for North Clare Integrated Transport and Traffic Plan at the Falls Hotel, Ennistymon

1.4. Roles and Responsibilities

Clare County Council and Fáilte Ireland will lead the North Clare Transport and Traffic Plan project. Internally the Project Steering Group will be led by the Physical Development Directorate and supported by the Tourism and Economic Development Directorates and Ennistymon Electoral Area office, West Clare Municipal District. 

The steering group will work in collaboration with;

• North Clare Community Group.
• Government Departments.
• Local Elected Members.
• National Parks and Wildlife Service.
• Burren Geopark.
• NTA (National Transport Authority).
• An Garda Síochána.

1.5. North Clare Integrated Transport and Traffic Plan and Original Draft Terms of Reference

Following the initial engagement in October 2023 with the North Clare Community Group (NCCG) it was agreed to prepare a “North Clare Integrated Transport and Traffic Plan” with a Draft Terms of Reference prepared by  Clare county council.

Draft Terms of Reference.
The draft terms of reference presented in December 2023 proposed the following approach to this project :

The project would comprise two parts, which would run concurrently:

Part 1: 
Completion of an Area Based Transport Assessment (ABTA) for North Clare.

Part 2:
Development of an integrated Traffic and Transport Plan for North Clare with specific  reference to the most highly trafficked locations of the Wild Atlantic Way, Lahinch, Doolin,  the Burren National Park, Burren Geopark and Cliffs of Moher .

For the purposes of both Part 1 and 2, North Clare was defined as the Ennistymon Electoral Area.

It was envisaged at that time that this plan would be designed to respond to the traffic and transport challenges identified and highlighted by state agencies and the host community in the Ennistymon Electoral Area.

These traffic and transport challenges translate into capacity and infrastructure impediments and  relate particularly to additional visitor traffic of all types when combined with local transport needs during the tourism season. This is also set within the backdrop of the fact that the tourism season is now extending each year. In this regard, the ‘North Clare Integrated Transport and Traffic Plan’ needed to be rooted in a sustainable tourism approach and  be integrated with technical transport and traffic solutions.

1.6. Review of Approach following Stakeholder Engagement on Draft Terms of Reference

Following engagement with the NCCG in February 2024 the Transportation Dept. in Clare County Council conducted an internal review of the proposed approach which had been outlined in the original draft terms of reference.

Primarily the review focused on the available reports and strategies completed to date and also the anticipated timelines of delivering the proposals outlined in the terms of reference in particular the  Area Based Transport Assessment (ABTA) for North Clare.

Following further engagement with external  transport specialists it  became apparent that the application of an Area Based Transport Assessment as per the National Transportation Authority guidelines may not be the most appropriate means of delivering interventions for the following reasons:

• The scale of the area in question greatly exceeds the normal parameters for an ABTA.
• The time associated with the delivery of an ABTA was anticipated to be approximately 2 years.

A delay of potentially 2 years to develop an ABTA was not a progressive way forward.

It was also apparent that the existing documentation coupled with input from the local community had already articulated the main issues with proposed solutions.

As an example the following documents provide excellent pathways to deliver solutions; 

• The 2008 Traffic Management Strategy for the R477/R479 Coast Road commissioned for the Burren Connect Project. The project was led by Clare County Council in partnership with Fáilte Ireland, Shannon Development , National Parks and Wildlife Services and Burren Beo.
• Fáilte Ireland Rural Regeneration Development Fund proposed project for laybys on the Atlantic Way in Clare and Municipal District works.

The Transportation Dept. of Clare County Council reviewed  the work which has already been carried and in particular the aforementioned 2008 Traffic Management Strategy for the R477/R479 Coast Road which had  identified the traffic management issues in that area of north Clare. There is no requirement to commission a full new report as the issues remain the same albeit the traffic volumes have increased since 2008.

The strategy gave detailed consideration of the overall strengths and weakness of each of the  options outlined and it was considered that Option Four included the most suitable approach to traffic management  for that area of North Clare.

This option includes many of the issues identified by the community during our recent engagement which were also summarised in email correspondence from Mr Tom Barret.

Preferred Option 4 included the following elements:

• o Designating/ Signposting the road as an 'Area of Special Scenic Significance’ so that the user is aware that he or she is in an exceptional area,
• o A review of speed limit within the scenic route areas, with traffic calming signs at viewing/parking areas.
• o A one-way system (North to South) for coaches and campervans,
• o Creation of passing places at pinch points (as opposed to any general road widening),
• o Limited roadside parking provision at places where there is an existing demand (focus on improved off road facilities where possible)
• o Monitoring of traffic and parking levels, and
• o Enforcement of litter laws.

1.7. Proposed Way Forward

Therefore it is now proposed that the  North Clare Transport and Traffic Plan (NCTTP) will be an over arching document combining elements of many of the relevant existing reports and  strategies. If a deficit of information is subsequently identified for a particular issue further studies can be done but only as a last resort. In addition it is the intention of Clare County Council to pilot transport initiatives in 2024. These will be designed to establish “early wins” to address the traffic congestion in North Clare.  These initiatives will be based on learned experience from key locations in other parts of Ireland and internationally as well as local knowledge and technical expertise. The successful and unsuccessful interventions will be documented and be included in the NCTTP which will be a living document and will build year on year as existing challenges are overcome and new challenges are presented. Should other relevant opportunities present which will further the objectives of the NCTTP they will also be added to the document.

The delivery of any of the objectives of the NCTTP will require financial investment. Some objectives will benefit from existing funding streams such as the annual schedule of municipal district works. For others it will require alternative sources of funding and therefore all avenues will be explored across government departments and funding authorities.

1.8. Working Groups

In conjunction with the development of the NCTTP it will also be a requirement to establish a number of working groups.

The Europe Union report in late 2023 on the Monitoring of the application of the European Charter of Local Self Government in Ireland cited it's primary concerns as “although new functions have been transferred to local authorities, local government is far from complying with the principle of subsidiarity which requires that public responsibilities shall generally be exercised, in preference, by those authorities closest to the citizens….,”

Therefore it is important to move in the spirit of subsidiarity in our engagement with the North Clare communities as experience has shown that those closest to the problem generally have the most practical solutions.

So it is now proposed that the working groups will comprise  Council officials from across the various Directorates , Failte Ireland and importantly community stakeholders to advance the delivery of the themed actions in the most timely manner possible.

From a review of the issues outlined to date it is proposed to establish the  working groups outlined in broad terms in Appendix A which will be responsible for delivering actions under various themes. The Groups will in turn further develop actions with clear specificity on locations timelines etc. It is proposed that the Groups will meet on a quarterly basis with a overall combined meeting of all Groups on a perhaps 6 month basis

1.9. Conclusion

It is anticipated that the proposed reframing on how this project can be delivered with a focus on delivering interventions in a collaborative approach with the community will generate better outcomes , long term benefits and  importantly in a much shorter timescale.

2.0. Appendix A
Proposed Working Groups with Action Plans , KPIs and Target Dates

Working Group for One Way Bus System

Actions	KPI	Target Date
Identify a suitable one way route for coaches to utilise for the summer of 2024. ( referred route clockwise along the Coast Road & to access to site from the northern direction via the R480)	Agree route	Q2 2024
Identify locations for VMS to give advance advisory notice of one way route for coaches for summer 2024	Assessment of locations complete	Q2 2024
Identify locations where a guide can advise coaches of the preferred route for summer 2024	Agree locations	Q2 2024
Implement the one way advisory system for coaches	Implement route	Q2 2024
Develop Good Code of Practice for travelling through the Burren by coach which will include using smaller coaches were possible, agreeing to use a one way system.	Launch code of practice	Q3   2024

 

Working Group for Signage & Lining

Actions	KPI	Target Date
MD should document work done to date eg road north of Kilfenora	Register of works/interventions made produced	Q2 2024
Develop signage programme for the North Clare Area – medium term	Signage plan for North Clare Area agreed	Q2 2025
Support & Implement ‘Drive on Left ‘ signage/lining at exits of tourist locations and carparks – summer 2024	Record locations where signage lining is installed	Q2 2024
Identify locations that require renewal & maintenance to signs and lines	Programme for renewal & maintenance developed	Q2 2024
Support and Implement locations suitable for ‘walkers on the road’ signage	Map locations	Q2 2024
Identify locations where space in verge can be provided as pedestrian refuge	Map locations	Q2 2024

Working Group for Traffic Management & Pedestrian Facilities

Actions	KPI	Target Date
Manage the collection of traffic data in North Clare in June & August 2024 - Kilfenora, Corofin, Ballyvaughan, Corkscrew, Lemanagh, Doolin, Ballinalaken Junction, Lisdoonvarna, Kilnaboy.	Traffic Survey completed	Q2/Q3 2024
Periodic Speed Limits at Schools - identify candidate locations in North Clare advance of new speed limit guidance	Prepare list of schools suitable for periodic speed limit	Q2 2024
Progress Byelaws for Periodic Speed Limits at N67 Rinneen and N67 New Quay. Implement Proposed National speed limit review	Byelaws adopted National Guidance	Q3 2024 Q3/Q4 2024
Identify & prioritise locations for gateway treatment/traffic calming - e.g. Fanore, Kilfenora, Kilnaboy.  Identify suitable funding streams - Towns & Village Renewal, Low Cost Safety, Specific Improvement Schemes, Development Fund etc.	Submit funding applications to DDTAS or Towns & Villages Renewal	DDTAS - Q3 2024
Cycling Routes Doolin Cycle Hub Loop 1 Doolin Cycle Hub Loop 2 Doolin Cycle Hub Loop 3 Doolin Cycle Hub Loop 4 assessed to verify their condition and complince with the current Recreational Cycling Trails Criteria for Ireland	Complete assessment	Q2 2024
RDO Progressing pedestrian crossing design Lahinch& Inagh.	Approval granted from TII to proceed to construction	Q2 2024
Active Travel Pedestrian and Cycling Connectivity Bridge Assessment carried out - O'Briens Bridge Liscannor - consider implementation.	Conclude Bridge assessment report	Q2 2024
Identify funding stream for pedestrian facilities Doolin		Q2 2024
Review 2007 Coast Road Strategy Report	Potentially engage with consultants to update report	Q2 2024

 

Working Group Lay Bys, Parking and Park and Ride

Actions	KPI	Target Date
Review the RRDF plans for Laybys & progress with Fáilte Ireland		Q2/Q3 2024
Investigate suitable waste management solutions for layby sites & parking facilities in North Clare		Q3 2024
Investigate waste disposal facilites site for camper vans		Q3 2024
Progress Park & Ride proposals for North Clare sites (GDO project)		Q4 2024

Working Group Public Transport

Actions	KPI	Target Date
Support public transportation by working with Bus Eireann to review bus stop locations in North Clare with a view to installing bus stops & bus shelters - call gone out to MDs
Develop programme with Bus Eireann for bus stop & bus shelters facilties in North Clare
Complete Bus Eireann Lahinch bus shelter	Complete the works	Q2 2024
Complete the Bus Eireann Cliffs of Moher bus shelter	Complete the works	Q3 2024
Promote the use of the NPWS bus at Corofin and Local Link
Work with Local Link to develop bus stop facilities

 

Working Group Road Maintenance & Improvements

Actions	KPI	Target Date
MD Resurfacing identify roads in multi annual 3 year programme	Develop RI & RM programme	Q2 2024 or as per DTTAS deadline
Identify potential Low Cost Safety Schemes for 2025	Submit potential scheme with outline solutions to RDO for design & submission to DTTAS	Q3 2024
Construct Low Cost Safety Scheme at Lough South pre summer 2024	Complete sfety scheme	Q2 2024
Hedge cutting enforcement notices	Issue Notices	Q3 2024

Acknowledgements

The background mapping used in the figures presented in this report are taken from Tailte Éireann (© Tailte Éireann Surveying, data reproduced under Licence number CYAL50380258) and OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors. See: https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

Page last reviewed: 15/08/24

Content managed by: Roads, Environment and Water Services Department

Back to top